Research
Approach
The research profile of the chair is characterized by an understanding of ethics as fundamen-tal-theological and concrete. The expression “fundamental-theological” is meant to signal the neccessity of rendering theological convictions accessible to a non-theological audience in a pluralist and functionally differentiated society. In the spirit of 1. Peter 3:15 (“Always be pre-pared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have”), fundamental-theological ethics aims to introduce insights of the Christian tradition into contemporary ethical discourses. Although this “transparticularisation” of religious con-victions touches upon a number of methodological and metaethical issues, the main focus of research is on concrete moral conflicts, especially in the field of bioethics and social ethics. In line with this emphasis, ethics is conceived of as an academic discipline that uncovers norma-tive questions, analyses their presuppositions and implications, develops criteria for the as-sessment of situations of moral conflict, advises policy makers, and passes on the respective knowledge and competences to students.
Current Projects
Coordination: Matthias Braun
Researcher: Max Tretter
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The processes of digitalization and the application of artificial intelligence are shaping and changing both health research and medical practice. The speed and depth of these developments require considerations of responsible, effective and differentially sensitive governance.
CwiC is an interdisciplinary research project that aims to narrow the gap between basic normative theory formation and applied system design at the interface of science, society and technology. The project is based on a general anthropological and sociological basic idea: mutual recognition, which is essential for us as a society and as individuals, is closely linked to our common uncertainty about the future.
The joint project is funded by the BMBF for three years and consists of a legal (Steffen Augsberg, Gießen), an ethical (Matthias Braun, Erlangen) and a behavioural-economic (Nora Szech, Karlsruhe) subproject.
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Data sovereignty: A review
In: Big Data & Society (2021)
ISSN: 2053-9517
DOI: 10.1177/2053951720982012
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Ethics of digital twins: Four challenges
In: Journal of Medical Ethics 47 (2021), p. 1-2
ISSN: 0306-6800
DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107675
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Represent me: please! Towards an ethics of digital twins in medicine
In: Journal of Medical Ethics 47 (2021), p. 394-400
ISSN: 0306-6800
DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2020-106134
URL: https://jme.bmj.com/content/47/6/394
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Contact-tracing apps: contested answers to ethical questions
In: Nature 583 (2020), p. 360
ISSN: 0028-0836
DOI: 10.1038/d41586-020-02084-z
URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02084-z
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Perspectives on digital twins and the (im)possibilities of control
In: Journal of Medical Ethics 47 (2021), p. 410-411
ISSN: 0306-6800
DOI: 10.1136/medethics-2021-107460
URL: https://jme.bmj.com/content/early/2021/05/17/medethics-2021-107460
Coordination: Matthias Braun
Researcher: Hannah Bleher
Funded by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
SMART Start focuses on improving and simplifying the prevention and care of pregnant women. Sensory applications such as fitness trackers and smartwatches are now finding their way into everyday life. The project investigates how these techniques and the data obtained from them can be used in regular prenatal care. Among other things, artificial intelligence and machine learning will be used for this purpose. In addition to the patients, the medical care system in general could also benefit from this.
The interdisciplinary research project is being carried out jointly by experts from medicine, computer science, ethics, psychology, and health economics. In addition, the focus is on clinical usability, social acceptance, compliance of the actors involved and the further development of sensory techniques as well as the associated ethical, medical law and economic questions.
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A Leap of Faith: Is There a Formula for “Trustworthy” AI?
In: Hastings Center Report 51 (2021), p. 1-6
ISSN: 0093-0334
DOI: 10.1002/hast.1207
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hast.1207
Coordination: Peter Dabrock / Matthias Braun
Researcher: Tabea Ott / Eva Maria Hille
Funded by: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
The DFG funded Collaborative Research Centre – CRC 1483 – “Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensory Systems” (EmpkinS) will investigate novel sensor and data transmission technology, as well as functional models of the human body and algorithms to enable an unobtrusive, contactless acquisition of movement parameters. Novel innovative human models create the link between the body’s internal status and the external view using sensor technology. With 19 exciting scientific subprojects, 24 interdisciplinary principal investigators, and 30 newly hired researchers working within the CRC, EmpkinS will provide a globally visible research environment.
Coordination: ,
Funded by: BMBF / Verbundprojekt
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A Leap of Faith: Is There a Formula for “Trustworthy” AI?
In: Hastings Center Report 51 (2021), p. 1-6
ISSN: 0093-0334
DOI: 10.1002/hast.1207
URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/hast.1207
Finished Projects
Coordination: Matthias Braun / Jens Ried / Ruth Denkhaus / Peter Dabrock
Funded by: BMG
Coordination: Peter Dabrock / Matthias Braun
Funded by: Emerging Fields Initiative/FAU
Description:
Biotechnologische und lebenswissenschaftliche Innovationen zeitigen nicht nur immense Fortschritte auf den unterschiedlichsten Feldern naturwissenschaftlicher und technischer Forschung und treiben damit auch ökonomische Entwicklungen voran, sondern erfassen mit ihrer Dynamik auch grundlegend das Verhältnis von ‚Natur‘, ‚Technik‘ und ‚Gesellschaft‘.
Bio-Objects werden weit über den jetzigen Stand hinaus eine Schlüsselposition in dynamischen, wissensbasierten Gesellschaften und Ökonomien einnehmen; durchkreuzen etablierte Kategorien (u.a. ‚natürlich’ vs. ‚künstlich’; und fundamentaler ‚Objekt‘ vs. ‚Subjekt‘ und ‚Natur‘ vs. ‚Kultur‘), überschreiten damit die Grenze des bloß Dinghaften und gewinnen gegenüber ihren Entstehungs- und Verwendungskontexten eine gewisse Selbstständigkeit und Unabhängigkeit
Ziel des Projektes ist es, (1) Bio-Objects als Treiber biotechnologischer Entwicklungen zu identifizieren, (2) sie in ihrer Multidimensionalität zu erfassen und (3) ihre Auswirkung auf Akteure und Gesellschaft zu untersuchen. Die angesichts dieser Komplexität zu erwartenden Konflikte sollen antizipiert und gestaltet werden.
Mit diesem Approach bringt das Projekt alle fünf Fakultäten an der FAU zusammen und wird durch Expertise von Herbert Gottweis aus Wien sowie Jochen Taupitz aus Mannheim flankiert.
Coordination: Jens Ried / Matthias Braun
Funded by: BMBF
Coordination: Harald Matern / Jens Ried / Peter Dabrock
Funded by: BMBF
Description:
Innerhalb des vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Verbundes „Engineering Life“ werden mit Kollegen von der Albrecht-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, dem Karlsruher Institut für Technologie und der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover der ethische, philosophische und theologische Begriffsrahmen der Synthetischen Biologie analysiert, das Nutzen- und Risikopotential dieser Forschung beurteilt sowie untersucht, ob und inwieweit die gesetzlichen Vorgaben in Deutschland den zukünftigen Herausforderungen durch die synthetische Biologie gewachsen sind. Der besondere Beitrag des Lehrstuhls liegt dabei in der Analyse, Aufarbeitung und Auswertung religionskulturell imprägnierter Formeln und Wendungen, vor allem hinsichtlich der Frage, ob und inwieweit schöpfungstheologische Versatzstücke und anthropologische Bestimmungen (z.B. „creating life“, „homo creator“, Mensch als „created co-creator“) angemessen zur Deutung der synthetischen Biologie eingesetzt werden können.
Coordination: Jens Ried
Funded by: BMBF
Coordination: Andréa Vermeer / Georg Lauss / Peter Dabrock
Funded by: BMBF
Academic partners
